Zero Cats Required

 28 Apr 26:

Research Assistant Pixy checking out the boat shop.

Shirley Hogge Maritime Artist

 26 Apr 26:

Hampton Roads maritime artist Shirley Hogge painted this scene of the steamboat ISLE of WIGHT departing Pagan Creek in Smithfield, VA. There are the peanut factories and warehouses on Wharf Hill in the background and an intriguing bowsprit of a skipjack in the foreground. Wof course are most interested in the small boats that ISLE of WIGHT carries.

W. L. Fuller Countersink Bit Set

 23 Apr 26:

We use these bits a lot on our wooden boats along with silicone bronze wood screws from Fairwinds Fasteners.

"The Fuller #8 Countersink Set contains five type C countersinks for wood screw sizes #6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 with 3/8" and 1/2" cutting diameters. Five matching taper point drills, 3/8" and 1/2" stop collars, 3/8" and 1/2" plug cutters, and two hex keys are all included in a really nice-looking mahogany case.
Fuller countersinks will last a lifetime if taken care of. The number 8 is our most popular set, favored by wooden boat builders, woodworkers, and other craftsmen."

Video

FMI: Jamestown Distributors

Freshwater Wash Down for the Fleet

 12 Apr 26:

De-pollened the Fleet today.

The Virginia State Navy and Isle of Wight County Mariners of the American Revolution

 11 Apr 26:

Our presentation:

YouTubeLive with Skipper and Clark - The Virginia State Navy and Isle of Wight County Mariners

 05 Apr 26: 

We are starting up YouTube livestreams for the Historical Society to help engage our distant members. Can you help spread the word of our next event?

The Virginia State Navy and Isle of Wight County Mariners 

April 11, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

YouTube Live https://www.youtube.com/@IWCVAHS

FMI: https://www.iowchs.com/events

Join us virtually for a YouTube live presentation on the Virginia State Navy and Isle of Wight County Mariners: During the American Revolution, the Virginia State Navy—whose vessels were often called “Virginia Boats”—played a vital defensive role along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, drawing heavily on the maritime skill of mariners from Isle of Wight County and the lower James River region. These locally built craft were typically shallow‑draft galleys, sloops, and armed schooners designed for Virginia’s narrow rivers and creeks, allowing them to maneuver where larger British warships could not.

Isle of Wight County sailors, experienced in coastal trade and river navigation, crewed these vessels and used their intimate knowledge of local waterways to protect commerce, convoy supplies, and harass British forces. Together, the Virginia Boats, their Captains and Crew exemplified how local shipbuilding traditions and adaptive naval tactics supported revolutionary resistance on the water.

Maritime Historians Audrey and Kent Lewis are sailors, wooden‑boat builders and small‑boat restoration specialists whose work is dedicated to preserving and interpreting traditional small craft. As contributing authors to WoodenBoat magazine and Small Boats Nation, their historical research places small boats within their regional, economic, and social contexts, highlighting the often‑overlooked builders and mariners. Audrey and Kent advocate for small wooden boats as forms of living history, that carry forward the sea stories of our ancestral mariners.

https://www.youtube.com/@IWCVAHS

Tow Vehicle Still Life

02 Apr 26:

You carry around oars in your car too, don't you?

 

New PFD Regulations

 01 Apr 26:

New 2025/2026 U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) regulations eliminate traditional Type I-V PFD classifications, replacing them with a new labeling system based on buoyancy levels (Level 50, 70, 100, etc.) and performance. These regulations, finalized in January 2025, emphasize pictograms, require specific, properly sized vests for each person, and phase out older labels. 

Key Changes to PFD Regulations:

• New Labeling System: PFDs are now classified by performance levels rather than Type I-V. Labels use icons to indicate turning ability and intended activity, making them easier to read internationally.
• Performance Levels:
  • Level 50-70 (Low-speed/Inshore): Suitable for calm, near-shore waters with quick rescue opportunities.
  • Level 100+ (Offshore/High-speed): Offers higher buoyancy for more challenging conditions.
• Standardization: The rules harmonize USCG standards with international standards (ANSI/CAN/UL 12402).
• Wearable vs. Throwable: Regulations still require one wearable PFD per person. For vessels 16 feet or longer, at least one throwable device (Type IV) is required in addition to the wearable PFDs. 

Serviceability and Compliance:

• Old PFDs: Existing Type I-V vests with older labels remain legal to use as long as they are in good, serviceable condition, though the new, stricter standards will likely be used to determine what "serviceable" means (e.g., faded labels, damaged straps).

• Accessibility: All PFDs must be immediately available (not in bags or locked).
• Children's Requirements: Children under 13 must wear a properly fitted USCG-approved PFD while underway in most cases.
• Activity-Specific Rules: Specific activities, such as operating a Personal Watercraft (PWC), require specialized PFDs that must be worn.

Skipper and Alcort Catfish SMEDLEY

 31 Mar 26:

Skipper and ST JACQUE

30 Amr 26: